Cumberland, ME — First Tracks Cumberland, in collaboration with Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway Bangor, has drawn for the Maine Legends pacing series to be held at both racetracks beginning on Tuesday (July 6) at Cumberland and Wednesday (July 7) at Bangor. Each leg carries a purse of $4,000 and has been written as a claiming allowance condition, with separate events for each gender.

The purse for the finals of each event is $12,500 guaranteed and will be raced at both tracks on July 24 (Cumberland) and July 25 (Bangor).

The Donald Richards first leg for mares attracted 10 entrants, which were split into two divisions and carded as races one and four on Tuesday (July 6) at Cumberland.

The first Maine Legends division of competitive distaffs is headlined by 2-1 morning line favorite Media Queen N (post three, Bruce Ranger) coming into the race on a three-race winning streak. The 10-year-old daughter of Mach Three is trained by Benson Merrill and appears to be very comfortable on the front end.

She will have to tussle with Humor Me (post two, Drew Campbell), a 6-year-old Bettor’s Delight mare that has been battling with this bunch for several weeks and looks to improve her record for trainer Kim Vafiades.

Punters may have to take a chance on which Love Love Me Do (post four, Dan Deslandes) will show up in that first division as well. The 7-year-old Rocknroll Hanover mare had reeled off four consecutive wins before shutting down at the three-quarters in her last start on June 15.

Another potential spoiler could be Age Is A Number (post five, Aaron Hall) who won her last start and whose driver has been 1-2-3 in seven of his last 13 starts at the fairgrounds.

The fourth race, second division of the Donald Richards sees Plainridge invader Patanjali N (post five, Walter Case Jr.) ostensibly dropping in class following a long string of 1-2 finishes in $7,500 claimers in the Old Bay State. Trained by Chris Lefebvre and installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite, the 8-year-old American Ideal mare has earned $20,541 this season.

Considering the potential of the aforementioned favored lady, this race could be a battle for second place if form holds true, pitting Mickey Blu (post four, Drew Campbell) against We’re Gonna Rock (post three, McGwire Sowers) and Post Time Terror (post one, Bruce Ranger) who all appear to be of relative equivalent ability.

Named for two of the most revered Maine harness horsemen of the current era, Freeman Parker and Donnie Richards, the series is unique in that there is no entry fee. In addition, it provides racing opportunities for both horses/geldings and mares, 4-years-old and older, that may be ‘stuck’ between classes.

The Freeman Parker first $4,000 leg for horses and geldings at Bangor on Wednesday (July 7) is carded as race six and is highlighted by the winning machine Southwind Terror. Trained by Chris Hitchcock and driven by Nick Graffam, he scores from post six in an eight horse field, which is sure to test the five-race win streak of the 11-year-old son of Camluck.

The series is open to pacers that have started for a base claiming price of $6,000 or less since Nov. 1, 2020, and have not won for a base claiming price exceeding $8,000, or have not won a race for a purse of $10,000 or more from Nov. 1, 2020 through date of first leg entry.

The co-featured trot of the day pits General Jackson (post four, Drew Campbell) against Jake G’s Champion (post five, Andy Harrington), where the former out-trotted the latter in their last meeting on June 26. Ironically the post positions are exactly the same in this renewal of the $4,600 conditioned race, with the likely leavers leaving and the setters setting.

Looking to spoil the war party is Mad Dog (post six, Heath Campbell) who finished second in his last outing, despite a misstep in the early going.

Live harness racing from Cumberland is presented each Tuesday and Saturday through July 31. Post time is 2:30 p.m. Two additional dates have been added for Aug. 4 and 5 with 11 a.m. posts. For more information go to our website at firsttrackscumberland.com or follow us on Facebook at @FirstTracksCumberland.